This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately slender, its depth 2.9-3.4 times in standard length; head length 1.1-1.3 times in body depth, 2.4-2.9 times in SL, dorsal profile near eye nearly straight or with small bump; snout length about 1.7-2.2 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.6-0.8 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile slightly concave, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 40° and 50°; interorbital space convex to flat; posterior nostril a longitudinal oblong opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to or not close to dorsal profile, its length 3.4-6.2 times in HL; cheek height 3 to 3.8 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws conical; outer surface of maxilla smooth; D X, 9 with the 3rd or 4th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.4-2.8 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length almost equal to or slightly shorter than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.3-1.7 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body with dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-48 lateral-line scales; 5 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; usually 16-17 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 6-9 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base without scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body grey, lighter ventrally, often with scattered irregular dark blotches; snout with wavy dark streaks, upper jaw, especially near corner of mouth sometimes edged behind with red (Ref. 114226).